If you have a sudden toothache or a flash of pain in your gums, you are not alone. According to the American Dental Association, 22% of the general population experience orofacial pain in six months, and about 12% of people have had a severe toothache.
The two basic possibilities of the tooth sensitivity are infected or a cracked tooth. Your Newport Beach dentist can quickly cure a sudden tooth discomfort due to your broken or infected tooth.
Before moving into how you can fix teeth sensitivity, let’s find out why do you have sudden sensitivity in the first place:
Exposure to extreme hot or cold
Often tooth sensitivity is caused by exposed nerve or worn tooth enamel. Whenever you drink or eat something that has an extreme temperature, you will feel an intense sharp flash of pain.
Gum recession
It’s a condition in which the gums are pulled away from your tooth surface. As a result, the root surface is exposed. In a severe case, it may cause tooth loss. Whenever you feel sudden teeth sensitivity, gum recession could be one of the causes. Gum recession further worsens as you age. Therefore it’s essential to seek advice from the Newport Beach dentist. The earlier, the better.
Dentin erosion
According to the US national library of medicine, almost 12.3% of people suffer from dentin hypersensitivity. Dentin hypersensitivity is highest among people aged between 18 to 44 years old than the adults who are 65 years old or older. More women suffer from it as compared to men. There are several reasons for dentin erosion. Some of them include a high intake of acidic diet and brushing teeth too hard. Acidic factor wears away the irreplaceable coating of your teeth, i.e., enamel. In some cases, it can lead to stabbing pain, which may shiver up your spine when you eat several foods.
Cavity
Tooth decay or cavity is a hole that appears in your tooth. It starts small, but over time, it grows so big that it becomes incurable. Tooth decay can linger on the top of your tooth or both sides and start bothering you suddenly. During the initial stages, cavities do not cause pain. Therefore they are hard to identify. If you pay regular visits to the Newport Beach dentist, chances are you will get rid of them early on.
Gum infection
There are several gum infections, and the most severe is periodontal disease. Almost 47% of adults over the age of 30 are affected by periodontal disease. Just like tooth decay, gum disease goes unnoticed in the early stages. And you may not even know you have it. Your sensitive gums and sensitive teeth can be a sign of escalating gum disease.
Cracked crown or cracked tooth
Your teeth sensitivity may be due to a broken tooth or cracked crown. A cracked tooth may be as a result of grinding your teeth at night or chewing on hard food. It may also occur as you age. In some cases, tooth crack might go so slightly that it is nearly impossible to see it.
Clenching or grinding jaws
People grind or clench their teeth from time and time as a response to anxiety and stress. When it stays for too long, it then becomes a habit, which is often called bruxism. If it prevails over a longer time, it can cause permanent damage to your teeth. Continuous grinding can wear away your tooth enamel while increasing your tooth sensitivity.
Dental procedures
Dental procedures are done to treat cavities and avoid tooth decay. Tooth work that involves drilling and frequent filling can make your teeth more sensitive. While these procedures sound simple, but if you have routine procedures, they may leave you with sensitive teeth afterward. Often sensitivity from a tooth filling may stay up to two weeks.
Teeth bleaching products
According to research having in-office teeth whitening procuring or using bleaching gels and whitening strips can leave you at a higher risk. You may experience sudden tooth sensitivity due to teeth bleaching products, but it is often temporary. The sensitivity may subside as you stop using the teeth whitening products.
Understand when to see your dental specialist
If you feel like your teeth have become very sensitive than ever before, reach out to your Newport Beach dentist. He may recommend you viable products to reduce tooth sensitivity. Your dentist may also recommend if you require any corrective procedure to relieve your pain. You should never ignore the following symptoms and see your dentist right away.
- If your toothache lasts longer than 48 hours
- Sharp, throbbing pain that doesn’t subside over time
- A migraine that is extended to your teeth
- If you have a severe fever that sounds coincide with your toothache